Throes of Mankind
Artist: Culture Killer
CD | MP3
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: November 27, 2015

Culture Killer caused quite a buzz with it’s independently released 2014 EP Denial. So much so in fact that the Florida band landed a deal with powerhouse label Metal Blade. Their full-length debut album Throes of Mankind was released on November 27, 2015 and the buzz continues to build.

The record features ten tracks that showcase Culture Killer’s particularly brutal brand of metallic hardcore interspersed with groove metal and death metal elements. There is also a very strong political slant to the lyrics.

This is my recap of the events of Sunday, October 25th 2015, the final day of Slipknot‘s massive Knotfest music festival. You can check out my coverage of the previous day right here.

When I left off last, my 12-year-old son Jesse and I were exhausted, but still reeling from having just experienced a long day of killer metal in the California desert. We had witnessed a ton of great bands and the day had culminated in the awesomeness that is Judas Priest live. We had barely 12 hours to recover and recharge for the second and final day.

To be perfectly honest with you, I wasn’t looking as forward to this day due to the fact that there weren’t really that many bands that I had not seen previously or had any real desire to see for the first time.

On October 24th and 25, 2015, my 12-year-old son Jesse and I made our second annual pilgrimage to Slipknot’s giant, weekend-long heavy metal festival Knotfest. The event once again took place at San Manuel Amphitheater at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, California. This is a recap of our experiences on Saturday, October 24.

The event actually kicks off on Friday night with a show just for those who are fortunate enough to be holding camping or VIP passes. We were not among those folks, so we missed out on Sepultura, The Faceless, and several others. A bit of a bummer, but nothing compared to the gut-wrenching decisions that we would have to make later in the weekend with so many quality bands performing opposite each other on the side stages (more on that in a few…).

Behold! The Monolith
Architects of the Void
MP3
Arctic Forest Records
Release date: September 29, 2015

It’s been a long road back from tragedy for Behold! The Monolith. In early 2013, the Los Angeles-based stoner/doom outfit was among the brightest rising stars in the genre. Their second album, Defender/Redeemist, which was produced by the legendary Billy Anderson, had just been released to very positive reviews and they were about to embark on a tour in support of it. Then on June 21st, tragedy struck when the band’s 29-year-old bassist and lead singer Kevin McDade was killed in an auto accident. Remaining members Matt Price and Chase Manhattan were left devastated and unsure of their future as a band. It was at the behest of the McDade family that they made the decision to carry on as Behold! The Monolith in honor of their fallen brother.

We’re doing something a bit different for this week’s edition of BMF. Whereas we normally feature a single track, this time out I have chosen to share with you my thoughts on a landmark new black metal record. This Black Metal Friday marks the release of what may be the most highly anticipated black metal album of 2015. The controversial San Francisco band Deafheaven‘s third studio album New Bermuda drops today, October 2, 2015.